Sisters In Song: Singing Nuns With A Cause

Sisters in Song, a one-of-a-kind choir with 80 Catholic nuns from more than 50 religious orders across the country, is becoming a hit on the spiritual-music scene.

Their recordings of traditional and contemporary Christian music have sold more than 70,000 copies since 1994. The group's newest CD, ``Rejoice!,'' was recorded under the direction of composer Christopher Walker. These singing nuns, who range in age from 35 to 78, help fund the retirement needs of nuns and priests in the United States through the sale of recordings. The money from the sale of their music is divided between The National Religious Retirement Office and Support Our Aging Religious Inc., two groups administering retirement funds to priests, brothers and sisters.

``Doing something to help others adds to the intensity and joy of what this music is all about,'' says Sister Theresa LaMetterey, Sisters in Song project director, who lives in Orange, Calif. The group was inspired by the 1993 movie ``Sister Act 2,'' starring Whoopi Goldberg. In the film, Goldberg whips a student choir into shape to become so successful that their financially challenged parochial school is saved from closing. Sisters in Song organizers initiated a national search for the best voices among congregations of women in religious orders, recorded ``Sisters in Song Celebrate'' in Los Angeles, put the cassettes and CDs on religious-store shelves and hoped for a miracle.

The idea inspired others to help as well. Sisters in Song recordings is now a grant project funded by a private charitable foundation. Oregon Catholic Press and World Library Publications, both distributors of the music, also contribute money to defray production costs and donate a portion of their profits to retirement funds for aging religious servants. The group has generated more than $500,000 toward the retirement needs of nuns, brothers and priests, money that the National Religious Retirement Office of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops says is desperately needed.

``I think the common perception is that the church takes care of us and that the Vatican sends us checks,'' says Sister Andree Fries, director of the Bishops' National Collection for Needy Senior Religious in Washington. ``That's not the way it is.''

In fact, estimates are that U.S. religious orders are underfunded by $6.4 billion. According to NRRO research, the financial crisis began in the early '70s, when health-care costs rose sharply and fewer younger adults dedicated themselves to religious vocations.

For nuns, the young women entering an order constituted its retirement plan. The new members would take paying jobs at local parishes, usually as teachers. Their wages, though low compared with secular workers, were used to care for the older sisters. But when the demographics of religious orders shifted, convents were left with more older than younger sisters and not enough wage earners to support their elderly.

Because members of religious orders were allowed in the nation's Social Security System only in 1973, many were unable to accrue significant benefits. NRRO statistics show that the average annual Social Security payment to a retired nun or priest today is $3,333, compared with $9,650 for other Americans.

Currently, more than 80 percent of the country's 75,000 nuns are age 70 or older and many are enrolled in Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income and other government entitlement programs for low-income individuals. Almost half of all religious institutes have sold property to fund retirement needs.

The members of Sisters in Song (www.sistersinsong.org) are continuing to raise their voices to help. The group hopes to raise $1 million this year.

``This project enables a collaborative group of religious women to contribute in a unique way to the resolution of the retirement crisis facing all religious,'' says Rita Hofbaur, president of Support Our Aging Religious Inc. ``It also serves to remind us of the beauty and harmony that can be achieved when we work together.''

Sisters in Song recordings can be ordered on Amazon.com or by calling 800-548-8749.